The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-07-20
UNITED LABOR PARTY.

1t seems ut last that q national
political party Is about to be sprung
on the public which may capture
some of the democratic states of
tho North and West, and may cv-
en- become a formidable rival of the
TWO existing parties. We refer to
tho Omitted Labor Party" In
February last, u number of dele
gates representing various labor
organizations, met in Cincinnati
and formed this as u national polit-
ical party. The Ohio branch has
recently nominated n full state
ticket and made a declaration of
principles, The platform adopted
declared among other things, that
the national agencies of produce
ton and distribution are seized by
syndicates Of spectators and gamb-
lcrs to whom every productive in
dustry in the land is compelled to
pny tribute. Laws are enacted in
the special interest of combinations
OF aggregated wealth to the detri-
ment of both producer and consu-
mers. 1t demanded that the laws
against the employment of bribery,
force or intimidation to secure
nominations or elections to public
office be rigidly enforced, and that
free drinks and lunch Mt saloons be
declared bribery by the statute;
that all banks shall be required to
give security to the state for the
average amount Of their deposits;
that speculation in tho necessaries
OF life, "%cornering" the market and
dealing in margins and futures arc
%ruineus to legitimate business.
This appears plausible and will
do%ubtlessN. take we'll in certain
sections. 62ut the convention,
dominated by disciples Of Henry
George, demanded fur-ther the abo-
lition Of all taxation on improve
ments and the products Of isJndustry,
the raising of all revenue bar a sing
le tax on land values, government
al control Of railways, telegrap.hs,
telephones and other means of dis
tribution and communication.
Here is the danger. So far as the
South is concerned, the Republican
party would be n b~enefactors when
compared to a party having such a
platform. They want to "raise all
by a tax on land" This
gives the nature of tho new party,
the laborers vs.. landlords. Know
ing that If the revenues of our gov
eminent were derived solely from
~ direct tax on land, the farmers
would Immediately be made bank
rupts, MI. GEORGE hopes by thus
forcing farms on the market to sup
ply his followers with "forty acres
and q mule" No country ever J
prospered while lands were depre3
Chatting in value.
Then they want the government
to control railways, telegraphs, tep-
phones etc. Just think for o4e
momont the power given to q pair
ty who could appoint in addition ito
the officers of the government, aTl
the railway and telegraph EMPLOY
ees! Suppose this party, taking the
Republicans as a precedent, should
levy q tax OH all employees, for
cam ign purposes. What II fund
could be raised! No, the govern
ment must exercise some control
over the railroads, but it cannot
own and operate them without en-
dangering the republic itself. En-
perience has taught us that parties
may become corrupt, and if we had
not the means Of OverthrOwing the
party when IL ~ corrupt, then, per-
Sonal liberty. security Of property,
and all the rights and privileges for
which our fathers before ug have
struggled, would be numbered
among the things that were. \
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